Head-to-head · Best Chromebooks Under $500

ASUS Chromebook CX15 vs HP Chromebook Plus 14a

Which is the better buy? Side-by-side on rating, price, strengths, and watch-outs — with the published ratings we averaged to get there.

The short answer

HP Chromebook Plus 14a comes out ahead by a narrow margin (3.9 vs 4.1). The gap is mostly about Buyers who prioritize a comfortable keyboard and a tough, cool-running chassis for basic schoolwork and browsing. — read the strengths below before deciding.

Ranked #5 in Best Chromebooks Under $500

ASUS Chromebook CX15

3.9

$269.99as of Jun 7

The ASUS Chromebook CX15 is the budget pick: a 15.6-inch ChromeOS laptop that often sells around $159-199, with a crisp matte 1080p display, a decent keyboard, and about 11 hours of battery. Reviewers are clear about the trade-offs, PCWorld (78%) and Tom's Guide (80%) both call it good value but slow, and the entry-level 4GB RAM bogs down under multitasking. As a minimum-viable, casual-use Chromebook it delivers a lot for the money, but it is the slowest option here.

Strengths

— Outstanding value, often around $159-199
— Large 15.6-inch 1080p matte display that resists glare
— Decent keyboard with good travel for a budget machine

Watch-outs

— Entry configs ship with only 4GB of RAM, which fills up fast
— Celeron N4500 is slow once you open more than a few tabs
— PCWorld calls it the slowest ChromeOS machine it has reviewed in years

$269.99 · Check Price on Amazon Full review →

Higher ratedRanked #4 in Best Chromebooks Under $500

HP Chromebook Plus 14a

4.1

$359.95as of Jun 7

The HP Chromebook Plus 14a is a sturdy, comfortable everyday Chromebook with a standout keyboard and cool-running design, all in the Chromebook Plus tier. Laptop Mag praised its build and typing experience but flagged a below-average display and middling i3-N305 performance. It is a dependable, no-drama clamshell for basic productivity and browsing, but it is outclassed on screen, storage, and speed by the higher picks here, landing it fourth.

Strengths

— Surprisingly comfortable, satisfying keyboard for the price
— Sturdy chassis that feels ready for daily commuting and school bags
— Runs cool under load, with the underside staying comfortable

Watch-outs

— Intel Core i3-N305 performance trails the best at the price
— 14-inch 1080p display is dimmer and duller than average
— Only 128GB of UFS storage

$359.95 · Check Price on Amazon Full review →

How they stack up

ASUS Chromebook CX15

The CX15 is by far the cheapest and largest-screened option here, but its low-power Celeron processor and entry-level 4GB RAM make it markedly slower than the Intel Core i3 and i5 machines: the Lenovo IdeaPad Flex 5i Chromebook Plus, ASUS Chromebook Plus CX34, Acer Chromebook Plus 514, and HP Chromebook Plus 14a. It is not a Chromebook Plus device, so it lacks their AI features, but its 15.6-inch matte panel and ~11-hour battery are genuine strengths.

HP Chromebook Plus 14a

The HP 14a shares the Intel Core i3-N305 platform with the Acer Chromebook Plus 514 but pairs it with only 128GB of storage versus the Acer's 512GB SSD. Its display is dimmer than the Lenovo IdeaPad Flex 5i Chromebook Plus and ASUS Chromebook Plus CX34 panels, and its 16:9 shape shows less than the Flex 5i's 16:10 screen, though it is faster and better-built than the budget ASUS Chromebook CX15.

Specs side-by-side

Spec	ASUS Chromebook CX15	HP Chromebook Plus 14a
CPU	Intel Celeron N4500 (2-core)	Intel Core i3-N305 (8-core)
RAM	4GB-8GB LPDDR5X (config dependent)	8GB
Storage	128GB eMMC	128GB UFS
Display	15.6" 1920x1080 matte IPS	14" 1920x1080, 16:9
Weight	3.51 lb	3.2 lb
Battery	42Wh, ~11 hours	~8 hours 50 minutes
OS	ChromeOS	ChromeOS (Chromebook Plus)
Ports	USB-C, USB-A, HDMI	—
Webcam	—	1080p

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